Locomotive



June 2, 1931. RRQESCH 1,808,256

LOCOMOTIVE Filed NOV. 16, 1929 a0 7 32 v/ 141 19 v 17 .15

INVENTOR BY Fran/ E Raesch M A TZ'ORNEY Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE FRANK P. ROESCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD STOKER COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE LOCOMOTIVE Application filed November 16, 1929. Serial No. 407,650.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of locomotives equipped with stokers and more particularly in means for securely and flexibly supporting the riser or fuel delivering conduit section of the stoker on the locomotive.

The invention has for its object to provide a construction which will support the weight of the riser, maintain a tight and rigid connection between the forward end of the riser and the boiler backhead, and support the lower end of the riser securely but flexibly.

It has the further object of providing a simple construction easily mounted on the locomotive frame for supporting the riser conduit.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein,

Fig. l is a detall, vertical, longitudlnal section of the rear portlon of a locomotlve and the forward portion of its tender, the stoker and support being shown in elevation; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

When a stoker construction is applied to a locomotive, it has been the practice in the past to support the forward conduit or riser wholly from the boiler backhead by supporting brackets extending rearwardly therefrom, and having the riser delivery end rigidly fastened to the rear plate of the backhead. This construction is not entirely satisfactory when the riser section is comparatively long and extends rearwardly from the backhead to a position adjacent to the locomotive coupling connection, and particularly so when the weight of the riser 1s such as to establish an overhanging weight beyond that which can be safely supported from the boiler plates. If the overhanging weight be excessive, the riser conduit tends to tear away from the backhead plates resulting in undue strains on the plates.

The present invention provides a highly advantageous supporting means for such long riser conduits and in which the lower or rearward end of the riser is supported from the locomotive frame by a particularly constructed expansion plate support. This construction prevents any tendency of the riser conduit from becoming loose or tearing away from the boiler plate. The expansion plates are sufliciently strong in a vertical direction to support the weight of the riser conduit, but they may bend longitudinally to compensate for the expansion or contraction of the boiler, thus permitting movement of the riser conduit without destroying the rigid connection between the riser and the boiler backhead. The expansion of the boiler is absorbed without setting up excessive stresses upon any member of the stoker arrangement or upon the backhead plates.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 represents the rear portion of a locomotive, 11 a portion of a tender and 12 indicates the coupling gear. There is indicated at 13 the frame of the locomotive; at 1a the boiler or more specifically the firebox thereof, at 15 the firebox backhead; at 16, its grate; and'at 17 its cab deck or floor. The firebox is of the conventional type used with existing locomotives and which is movably supported from the frame by a supporting plate as at 18. The stoker shown in the drawings is used for the purpose of illustration only, and it will be obvious that stokers of varied constructions may be used if desired. The stoker comprises in part a forward tubular telescoping conduit section indicated enerally at 19 connected at its forward end by a uni- Versal joint 20 with an upwardlyand forwardly extending fixed conduit or riser 21 which is angularly disposed with relation to the part 19 and communicates with the firing opening 22. The front end of the fixed conduit 21 delivers directly to the firing opening and onto a distributor plate 23. This front end of the fixed conduit is formed by a separable hood or mouth member 24 which at its rearward face is attached to the main section of the fixed conduit as by bolts (not shown) through the flanges 25 and 25a, and at its forward face is rigidly secured 'to the backhead 15 in communication with the opening 22 as by bolts 26 through the laterally extending flanges 27 and 27a.

The fixed conduit 21 is supported on the locomotive frame by means of an expansion plate support. The expansion plate support comprises a cross bracket 28 rigidly fastened to the frame 13 as by bolts 29 and 29a and vertical plates 30 and 30a, rigidly secured at one end to cross bracket 28 as by rivets 31 and at the other end rigidly secured to flanges 32 and 32a which extend laterally from the fixed conduit 21, at its lower end, as by bolts 33. The vertical plates 30 and 30a are sufficiently strong in a vertical direction to support the weight of the fixed conduit 21, and sufficiently flexible longitudinally so as to compensate for expansion and contraction of the various parts that communicate with the fixed conduit 21.

From the foregoing it will be seen this invention provides a highly desirable form of support for feed conduits and is arranged to support the conduit from the locomotive frame, but at the same time, the support permits the conduit to move with the boiler.

15 claim:

1. In a locomotive having a frame, a firebox and backhead construction flexibly mounted thereon, and a fuel feed conduit section for delivering fuel to said firebox being at its forward end fixedly attached to said backhead and having its-rearward end remote therefrom, the improvement which comprises an upstanding plate rigidly secured at one end to the rearward portion of said frame and rigidly secured at the other end to the rearward portion of said conduit section, said plate supporting the conduit section in a vertical direction and being flexible to permit movement of the feed conduit with the firebox in a horizontal direction.

x 2. In a locomotive having a frame, a firev box and backhead construction flexibly, .mounted thereon, and a fuel feed conduit section for delivering fuel to said firebox being at 'its forward end fixedly attached to said backhead and having its rearward end remote therefrom, the improvement which comprises a cross bracket rigidly mounted on the rearward portion of said frame, yieldable vertical platesrigidly secured at one end of each to said cross bracket and rigidly secured at the other ends to the rearward portion of said conduit section remote from the backhead to permit movement of the feed conduit with the'firebox in a horizontal direction.

3, In a locomotive, the combination of a boiler firebox, a frame, a forwardly and upwardly extending conduit rigidly attached at its delivery end to said boiler firebox, and means comprising anupst-anding yieldable device mounted rearwardly of the firebox and rigidly secured at one end to said frame and rigidly attached at the other end to the lower portion of said fixed, conduit to rmit movement of the'conduit with th re box in a horizontal direction.

vertical plates rigidly fastened at one end of each to said cross bracket and at the other ends to said lateral flanges of the fixed conduit to permit movement of the fixed conduit with the firebox in a horizontal direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK P. ROESCH.

III 

